Just wondering whether someone could preorder one for me from Good Games. Seems it would be much quicker than getting one posted to Wyche. I hope to get to Ballarat sometime in the hols, so that would be cool. (Likely last weekend of hols). See other thread.

Anyway, I would love to have a MM for this game. They come out the Tuesday before.

“It is amazing what you can accomplish if you do not care who gets the credit.” – Harry S. Truman

I'm not sure that this is related but there was a story in the Courier a couple of weeks ago about Australia Post wanting to only deliver a couple of days a week in some areas, instead of daily like it used to be. Might want to check adn see if this has happened.

I was in Maryborough today too, but have to wait until weekend. In fact, been down Geelong for a few days.

I have read many reviews on this and they all been very positive. Looking fwd to it. I am just hoping it has some of the main monsters I need for our game. I know the index has been posted somewhere online ages ago. I will have to check.

I hope so, as going away and now having work for rest of hols, I will have F-all chance to work on the game. I am glad I have already done PCs/NPCs, and will have to rely on the MM to fill the gaps. :)

So, other initial reactions?

Oh, and thanks heaps for getting me one :)

“It is amazing what you can accomplish if you do not care who gets the credit.” – Harry S. Truman

Honestly, I'm a bit disappointed in the artwork. I think most of the monsters I've looked through have previous artwork that's superior to this book. Some of the entries 'feel' a little light on info that isn't just combat stats, though that may not be a bad thing.

Hanlon's Razor - Never attribute to malice that which can be explained by stupidity.

Some art is a little lackluster (as blaire pointed out). I thought maybe they wanted to start fresh and use all new art, but i have seen some of the art before. It seems to be just one particular artist, they have a very cartoonish style.

Stat blocks look really good and easy to use

I love the new lair rules

They don't have as much variety of one monster like 4E. I imagine that they wanted to get out a large amount of unique monsters, then follow up by adding single monster variety in later MMs.

They have special "beasts" in the appendix with all of the normal animals(i.e. Phase Spider). I find this kind of odd.

One thing that would have loved to have seen is a list of all the special abilities and what they do. This would make it easy to customise monsters, or create new ones.

Odd about the pics. They apparently used a huge amount of artists. And from what I have seen they have completely the opposite from the cartoony pics of 3e-4e. Art in the PHB for eg looks more like old paintings?

I love all the monsters I have seen so far. Legendary and Lair actions look like a great way to approach the 'economy of actions' prob I have long been on about in Savage Worlds.

Stat blocks look excellent. Reduced down to bare bones AND stats that make sense. Ie: You can see why a creature has a certain AC. Not based on level = great step forward.

Whilst I liked a lot of the 4E powers, I just could not visualise many of them. The simple ones here are good.

No need for a heap of different stats for all the different humanoids etc either. There are no official roles to fill. To change up, just change weapons.

Some of those 'beasts' do look a little supernatural for that section.

A list of all powers would have severely reduced the page count and therefore monsters in the book. I would much rather just search through the monster stats for powers than a giant list anyway. You can generally picture what type of creature you would be after for a similar power, whereas a list of names of powers wouldn't make sense anyway.

I have had a good look at all previewed pages so far (and there are many), read many reviews and downloaded CR charts…and I have to say this looks like my kind of MM…but I don't have it hands yet and I can't wait to pore through it.

Another thing - I seem to like the groupings of 'types' of monsters too. I think i will be reshuffling my stats and pics into the same group folders when I get the book.

“It is amazing what you can accomplish if you do not care who gets the credit.” – Harry S. Truman

Oh, and another (the main) reason there are less versions of some monsters is simply b/c the basic monster remains viable for more levels (you just add more of them).

I like this. Whilst I like a bit of variety in creatures, I hated the idea of having to have orcs of all levels to be a challenge. As a player you (and characters too), you come to expect what kind of threat an orc is. That makes sense to me. Sure there are the odd exceptions, but you know the majority of orcs are 'this tough'.

In 4E, if the party were level 8 you could (and had to) make up a lot of lvl 8 versions of the monsters. You do not need to now.

“It is amazing what you can accomplish if you do not care who gets the credit.” – Harry S. Truman

Well, even if the pics aren't the best (though I generally like the art), this is a great book to read! I take it to bed most nights reading random monsters. I think I have now read all and many twice.

The layout with subheadings is such a good idea (as done in 4E Monster Vault) and there is so many cool ideas in the text. It is actually coffee-table like reading. Something you can pick up again and again and just read. 4E MMs were certainly the opposite of this.

I reckon the balance of stat blocks and story is perfect! Stat blocks are nice and easy too, still with enough to make most creatures interesting.

“It is amazing what you can accomplish if you do not care who gets the credit.” – Harry S. Truman

Yea I have to agree on the art, there is a couple awesome pics though. The art doesn't worry me to much though, I tend to use random pics I find for monsters. I really like the "fluff" they add describing the monsters, I really makes it easier to come up with ideas.

Ok, so my initial hesitation on the artwork might have a bit over the top, some of it is actually pretty good (Ogre, Ettin, Mummy). But there are still some that make me cringe (Modrons, Stirge, about half the Demons and Devils).

I still wish they'd ditch the Tarrasque once and for all. Most ridiculous monster of all time still.

Hanlon's Razor - Never attribute to malice that which can be explained by stupidity.